Social entrepreneurship: Partnership platforms for sustainable societies

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

Dr Marie Lisa Dacanay, President of the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia, defines social entrepreneurship as ‘a game changing strategy to mainstream social enterprises to help the poor/ marginalized and women at the grassroots become key partners in multi-stakeholder innovation platforms for developing inclusive, sustainable economies; and to partake of the value and wealth created in ways that transform their lives and communities’.

Secondhand smoke is bad for the heart

Dr Amitava Acharyya, CNS Correspondent, India

It has been known for long a time now that active cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for heart diseases. However, a large percentage of us are ignorant of the toxic effects of secondhand smoke—inhalation of cigarette, bidi, hookah smoke or inhalation of smoke produced by burning of coal or wood as fuel for cooking. This second hand smoking or passive smoking too is harmful and can lead to many diseases—like coronary obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, stroke, hypertension, cancer, peripheral vascular disease, sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight etc.

Defending the environmental defenders

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

Violations of the environmental rights of communities and individuals are on the rise in Asia Pacific and worldwide. Statistics released by Global Witness reveals that in 2017, 197 people were killed (on an average 4 per week) for defending their land and/or natural resources, underscoring the escalating violence in a global economy that is driven by expansion and consumption through corrupt and unjust practices. Extractive industries were one of the deadliest drivers of violence.

Climate justice is integral to development justice

Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)

Climate justice is integral to development justice, as it is essential for building a brave feminist future sans power and wealth inequalities. This is the dream of feminists in the Asia Pacific region, including Misun Woo, who recently took over charge as the Regional Coordinator for APWLD (Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development). A law graduate from New York University School of Law, Misun Woo, is deeply committed to a feminist movement building to dismantle the current patriarchal structures and systems that are violating women’s human rights, deepening inequalities and fuelling conflicts.

Smokeless tobacco under gender lens

Dr Sophia Thomas, CNS Correspondent, India
The first World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) was observed on 31 May 1988, a year after this global campaign was created during the World Health Assembly by the World Health Organization. The objective of WNTD was to encourage all persons worldwide who smoke or chew tobacco to quit for at least 24 hours. Ironically, a simple google search of “World No Tobacco Day” brings up a series of images showing cigarettes being shunned in creative ways. The current theme of WNTD focuses on effects of tobacco on cardiovascular health and is depicted as smoke rising from the blood vessels of the heart. Unfortunately, most of the images, depicting the health hazards of tobacco, fail to showcase the harmful effects of ‘smokeless’ forms of tobacco, which are equally harmful.